Digital photo frame with dial-a-tag functionality

ABSTRACT

A digital photo frame, including a memory for storing a plurality of digital photos, and tags associated with the digital photos, where a tag for a digital photo corresponds to an object appearing in the digital photo, a screen for displaying the digital photos, an interface for making connection with a communicator, wherein the communicator includes a storage for storing a contact list of phone numbers for objects, and a controller, coupled with the memory and the interface, for rendering one of the plurality of digital photos on the screen, and for instructing the communicator via the interface (i) to identify the phone number of a selected object, and (ii) to dial the identified phone number, in response to user activation of a tag associated with the rendered digital photo and corresponding to the selected object.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless communication and digitalphoto frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most digital photo organizers today associate tags with photos from auser's digital photo archive. A tag is a keyword used to describe andcategorize a photo. When digital photos are tagged, a user can issue asearch query having one or more tags, and the digital photo organizersearches for all digital photos having the one or more tags associatedtherewith.

Tags are especially useful for identifying objects appearing in digitalphotos. Objects may be inter alia people, business establishments,organizations, governments and municipalities, geographical sites,entertainment services and information services. Such tags are referredto as “name tags”. If photos are tagged with name tags corresponding toobjects appearing therein, then a user can easily search for and locateall of his photos in which a designated object appears, even for verylarge digital photo archives. Many familiar web-based image applicationsand social networks use name tags, including Picasa® Web Albums operatedby Google Inc. of Mountainview, Calif., and Facebook® operated byFacebook, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif.

Tagging photos with tags corresponding to objects may be done manuallyby a user, automatically by object recognition software such as the OKAOVision™ face sensing software developed and marketed by OMRONCorporation of Kyoto, Japan, or the Face Sensing Engine developed andmarketed by Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan.

A “digital photo frame” is an electronic device that digital photos in aphoto frame, generally in a slide show fashion with an adjustabletransition time. Digital photo frames include a video engine andmicroprocessor which processes JPEG images, controls power management,and controls a user interface. Some digital photo frames also supportmovie clips, audio and text. For such digital photo frames, the videoengine and microprocessor also decodes MPEG videos and handles audioprocessing for up to two channels, the audio processing includingdigital to analog audio conversion and audio amplification.

Digital photo frames are controlled via a user interface. The userinterface may include buttons, remote control, and touch control. TheShogo SG 080 digital photo frame manufactured and distributed byRealEase Limited of Hong Kong, and the Ality PF-T150 digital photo framemanufactured and distributed by Mustek, Inc. of Taiwan havetouch-sensitive display screens.

Many digital photo frames include internal memory for storing digitalphotos. Such digital photo frames generally enable users to load photosto the memory via a USB connection. Many digital frames are able torender and display digital photos directly from a camera memory card.

Some digital photo frames are networked and support wirelesscommunication such as Wi-Fi or broadband or phone line. Such digitalphoto frames load photos over the Internet from RSS feeds, from e-mailattachments, and from photo sharing sites such as Flickr® operated byYahoo! Inc of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Picasa® Web Albums. Ceiva Logic,Inc. of Burbank, Calif. manufactures and distributes a digital photoframe, and offers PicturePlan®, which is a monthly service fordownloading photos over a phone line. The Ceiva digital photo frameoptionally supports wireless connectivity. Sony Corporation of Tokyo,Japan manufactures and distributes a VAIO® WiFi Photo Frame, ModelVGF-CP1, with wireless connectivity. Ality Limited of Hong Kongmanufactures and distributes a Wireless PIXXA™ digital photo frame withwireless connectivity. The DF7700 digital photo frame manufactured anddistributed by Parrot SA of Paris, France, and the Vodafone 520 photoframe manufactured and distributed by Vodafone Group plc of Berkshire,England, have cellular connectivity. The DF7700 and the Vodafone 520digital photo frames have slots for SIM cards and, as such, have theirown phone numbers that can be used for sending photos to the digitalphoto frames.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention relate to an enhanced digital photoframe to which a wireless communicator may be attached, generally byinserting the communicator into the digital photo frame such that thecommunicator is fully or partially enclosed therewithin. When thecommunicator is attached to the digital phone frame, the photo frame hasthe capability to make an outgoing phone call to an object appearing ina digital photo that is rendered in the photo frame; and to renderdigital photos that have a caller appearing therein, when an incomingphone call is received from the caller.

Embodiments of the present invention operate by joining a photo and tagdatabase from the digital picture frame, with a contact list databasefrom the communicator.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention a digital photo frame, including a memory for storing aplurality of digital photos, and tags associated with the digitalphotos, where a tag for a digital photo corresponds to an objectappearing in the digital photo, a screen for displaying the digitalphotos, an interface for making connection with a communicator, whereinthe communicator includes a storage for storing a contact list of phonenumbers for objects, and a controller, coupled with the memory and theinterface, for rendering one of the plurality of digital photos on thescreen, and for instructing the communicator via the interface (i) toidentify the phone number of a selected object, and (ii) to dial theidentified phone number, in response to user activation of a tagassociated with the rendered digital photo and corresponding to theselected object.

There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention a method for communication using a digital photoframe, including rendering a digital photo, the digital photo having oneor more tags associated therewith, wherein a tag for a digital photocorresponds to an object appearing in the photo, receiving a user inputphone call command for a selected one of the tags associated with therendered digital photo, and in response to the receiving automaticallydetermining a phone number for the object corresponding to the selectedtag, and automatically dialing the phone number for the objectcorresponding to the selected tag.

There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention a method for communication using a digital photoframe, including rendering a digital photo, the digital photo having oneor more tags associated therewith, wherein a tag for a digital photocorresponds to an object appearing in the photo, automaticallydetermining phone numbers corresponding to the one or more tags,receiving a user input phone call command for a selected one of the tagsassociated with the rendered digital photo, and in response to thereceiving, automatically dialing the phone number for the objectcorresponding to the selected tag.

There is yet further provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention a method for linking tags associated with digitalphotos to objects in a contact list, by a digital photo frame, includingassociating tags with a plurality of digital photos, where a tag for adigital photo corresponds to an object appearing in the digital photo,accessing a contact list of phone numbers for objects, automaticallysearching for the object corresponding to one of the tags within thecontact list, and if the object corresponding to one of the tags islocated within the contact list, then automatically enabling a user toassign the object's phone number to the tag, and if the objectcorresponding to one of the tags is not located within the contact list,then enabling a user to assign an existing object or a new object to thetag.

There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention a method for linking tags associated with digitalphotos to objects in a contact list, by a digital photo frame, includingassociating a tag with a digital photo, the tag corresponding to anobject appearing in the digital photo, accessing a contact list of phonenumbers for objects, automatically enabling a user to assign one of theobjects in the contact list to the tag, or to add a new object and phonenumber to the contact list and to assign the new object to the tag, andin response to the user activating the tag, automatically dialing thephone number of the object assigned to the tag.

There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention a digital photo frame, including a memory for storinga plurality of digital photos, and tags associated with the digitalphotos, where a tag for a digital photo corresponds to an objectappearing in the digital photo, a screen for displaying the digitalphotos, an interface for making connection with a communicator, whereinthe communicator includes a storage for storing a contact list of phonenumbers for objects, and a controller, coupled with the memory and theinterface, for receiving a caller ID for an incoming call answered bythe communicator, for identifying an object in the contact list whosephone number matches the caller ID, for identifying one or more of theplurality of digital photos that have an associated tag corresponding tothe identified object, and for rendering the identified digital photoson said screen while the incoming call is in progress.

There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention a method for communication using a digital photoframe, including receiving a caller ID for an incoming phone call,automatically determining the identity of the caller, automaticallyidentifying one or more digital photos that have tags corresponding tothe caller, wherein a tag for a digital photo corresponds to an objectappearing in the photo, and automatically rendering the identified oneor more digital photos while the incoming call is in progress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a digital photo frame and acommunicator attached thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of a digital photo frame withdial-a-tag functionality via a touch screen, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of a digital frame with dial-a-tagfunctionality via user interface buttons, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a communication system with communicatorsand hosts operative in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a communicator being inserted into a host,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a communicator and a digitalphoto frame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a simplified flowchart of a method of making an outgoing phonecall, via a communicator, by a digital photo frame, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram of joining of a digital photo databasefor a digital photo frame with a contact list database for acommunicator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a simplified flowchart of a method of receiving an incomingphone call, via a communicator, by a digital photo frame, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a simplified flowchart of a method for tagging objectsappearing in photos when a communicator is not attached to a digitalphoto frame, and linking the photo tags to phone numbers when thecommunicator is subsequently attached to the digital photo frame, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart of a method for tagging objectsappearing in photos and linking the photo tags to phone numbers, when acommunicator is attached to a digital photo frame, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention relate to a digital photo frame with“dial-a-tag” functionality, as shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The dial-a-tag functionality isavailable when a communicator 400 is attached to a digital photo frame100. The dial-a-tag functionality enables a user to make an outgoingcall via communicator 400 to an object appearing in a digital photorendered in digital photo frame 100, by simply activating a tagassociated with the digital photo, where the activated tag correspondsto the object. Activation of a tag is performed by using buttons toadvance through the tags associated with the rendered digital photo andselecting one of the tags. Alternatively, for digital photo frames withtouch-sensitive screens, activation of a tag is performed by touching anarea of the touch-sensitive screen where the object corresponding to thetag appears in the rendered digital photo.

Further aspects of the invention enable a user to manually mark areas onthe digital photo frame screen, and thereby create new tags.

Yet further aspects of the present invention enable the digital photoframe to display digital photos with a caller appearing therein, when anincoming call is received from the caller via the communicator.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified illustration of adigital photo frame with dial-a-tag functionality via a touch screen, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Shown in FIG. 2is a digital photo frame 100 with a touch-sensitive screen 120. Awireless communicator (not shown) is attached to digital photo frame100. The communicator makes outgoing phone calls and receives incomingphone calls. Moreover, digital photo frame 100 is able to instruct thecommunicator to make outgoing calls.

Touch-sensitive screen 120 is shown rendering a digital photo with threepeople appearing in the photo. Correspondingly, three tags werepreviously associated with the digital photo; namely, a tag T1 forMichelle, a tag T2 for Jane, and a tag T3 for Sarah.

If a user touches touch-sensitive screen 120 at a display areacorresponding to tag T3, the digital photo frame automatically instructsthe communicator to make an outgoing phone call over a wireless network200 to Sarah's phone 300. Similarly, if the user touches touch-sensitivescreen 120 at a display area corresponding to tag T1, the digital photoframe instructs the communicator to make a phone call to Michelle'sphone, and similarly for tag T2. This functionality is referred toherein as “dial-a-tag” functionality.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, touching of a tag,say tag T3, triggers sending an e-mail message to Sarah, or sending anSMS message, or sending an MMS message. Although the descriptionhereinbelow refers to making and receiving phone calls, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that other forms of communication may be sentand received, including inter alia e-mail messages, SMS messages and MMSmessages.

Digital photo frame 100 is also responsive to incoming calls. When thecommunicator receives an incoming call over wireless network 200 from acaller's phone 300, digital photo frame 100 uses the caller ID toidentify digital photos that have the caller appearing therein. Digitalphoto frame 100 renders the identified digital photos on screen 120while the incoming call is in progress. Thus when the communicatorreceives an incoming call, say, from Sarah, digital photo frame 100renders one or more digital photos that have Sarah appearing therein,during the call, in a slide show fashion.

As mentioned above, digital photo frame 100 may be responsive to otherforms of incoming communication, including inter alia e-mail messages,SMS messages and MMS messages.

Moreover, digital photo frame 100 is responsive to conference calls.During a conference call, digital photo frame 100 displays digitalphotos with having some or all of the conference call participantsappearing therein, in a slide show fashion.

Thus it will be appreciated that digital photo frame 100 integrates withthe communicator, when the communicator is attached thereto, so as tocoordinate display of digital photos with the object(s) at the other endof an outgoing or incoming call.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified illustration of adigital frame 100 with dial-a-tag functionality via user interfacebuttons, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Asin FIG. 2, the wireless communicator (not shown) is attached to digitalphoto frame 100. Whereas the dial-a-tag functionality in FIG. 2 isactivated by touching screen 120, the dial-a-tag functionality in FIG. 3is activated by use of buttons 131, 132, 133. Buttons 131 and 132 areused to advance forward and backward through tags T1, T2 and T3. Asshown in FIG. 3, pressing on button 132 when tag T1 is highlightedadvances to tag T2. Pressing on button 132 when tag T2 is highlightedadvances to tag T3. Button 133 is used to activate “dial-a-tag” for thetag currently highlighted. When button 133 is pressed with tag T3highlighted, a phone call is made by the communicator, via wirelessnetwork 200, to Sarah's phone 300.

Regarding the wireless communicator, aspects of the present inventionrelate to a communicator that inserts into various “hosts”. A host isdefined herein to mean a device that is able to operate independentlywhen the communicator is not inserted therewithin, and whosecapabilities are enriched by the wireless communicator when the wirelesscommunicator is inserted therewithin. Digital photo frame 100 is such ahost.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which is an illustration of a communicationsystem with communicators and hosts operative in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. Shown in FIG. 4 are communicators400 a-400 c, including a 2.5G communicator for a GSM network, a 3Gcommunicator for a GSM network, and CDMA communicator for a CDMAnetwork. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thenetworks illustrated in FIG. 4 are exemplary of a wide variety ofnetworks and communication protocols that are supported by thecommunicators of the present invention, such networks and communicationprotocols including inter alia WiFi, Bluetooth and WiMax.

Also shown in FIG. 4 are hosts 500 a-500 h. In accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, each of communicators 400 a-400 cmay be inserted into any of hosts 500 a-500 h, so as to operate incombination therewith. Communicators 400 a-400 c are substantially ofthe same form factor and, as such, are able to be inserted into each ofhosts 500 a-500 h.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which is an illustration of a communicator400 being inserted into a host 500, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. Host 500 as shown in FIG. 5 includes a hollowcavity at the top for insertion of communicator 400 therewithin.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which is a simplified block diagram ofcommunicator 400 and digital photo frame 100 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. Communicator 400 includes eightprimary components, as follows: a controller 410, a modem 415 forsending and receiving voice and data, a user interface including adisplay screen 431 and a keypad 432, a memory 440, a power amplifier460, an antenna 470, an interface 480 for connecting the communicator todigital photo frame 100 when the communicator is attached to digitalphoto frame 100, and a subscriber identification module (SIM) 490.

Controller 410 executes programmed instructions that control the dataflow between communicator 400 and digital photo frame 100. Modem 415controls the communication functionality of communicator 400. Memory 440includes a contact list 445 of objects and their phone numbers. Poweramplifier 460 includes a radio frequency (RF) interface 465, and isconnected to antenna 470.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the interfacebetween controller 410 and memory 440, and the interface betweencontroller 410 and modem 415 are both SD interfaces. The interfacebetween controller 410 and interface 480 is a custom interface.Interface 480 may connect digital photo frame 100 and communicator 400wirelessly, or may connect them physically by electrical connection.

Communicator 400 may also include an optional power management subsystem450, which includes charging circuitry for charging a battery 455.

In some embodiments of the present invention, communicator 400 isoperable as a standalone phone. In other embodiments of the presentinvention, communicator 400 is not operable as a standalone phone, andmay be missing some of the components shown in FIG. 6, such displayscreen 431 or keypad 432.

Digital photo frame 100 includes four primary components, as follows: acontroller 110, a user interface including a display screen 120 and oneor more buttons 130, a memory 140, and an interface 180 for connectingthe digital photo frame to communicator 400 when communicator 400 isattached to the digital photo frame. Memory 140 stores a database 145 ofdigital photos and tags associated with digital photos. A tag associatedwith a digital photo corresponds to an object appearing in the photo, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Digital photo frame 100 may optionally include a cellular and/or WiFimodem 115. Controller 110 generally includes an image processor 111, andmay optionally include a video processor 112 and an audio processor 113.The user interface of digital photo frame 100 may optionally include aspeaker and/or a microphone, for enabling or enhancing the audiocapabilities of communicator 400. Digital photo frame 100 may alsoinclude an optional power management subsystem 150 and an optionalbattery 155. The user interface may optionally include additionalcomponents (not shown), such as a microphone, and a mono speaker orstereo speakers.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the interfacebetween controller 110 and storage 140 is an SD interface. The interfacebetween controller 110 and interface 180 is a custom interface.Interface 180 may connect digital photo frame 100 and communicator 400wirelessly, or may connect them physically by electrical connection.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, which is a simplified flowchart of a methodof making an outgoing phone call, via a communicator, by a digital photoframe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thesteps of FIG. 7 are performed by a digital photo frame, such as digitalphoto frame 100 of FIG. 6.

At step 1010 the digital photo frame renders a digital photo. At step1020 the digital photo frame receives a user input command for making anoutgoing phone call, the command relating to a selected one of the tagsassociated with the rendered digital photo. The user command may beinvoked by touching a touch-sensitive screen in an area where theselected tag is displayed, as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the usercommand may be invoked by use of buttons to advance through the tagsassociated with the displayed digital photo and to select one of thetags, as shown in FIG. 3.

At step 1030 the digital photo frame automatically determines a phonenumber for the object corresponding to the tag selected at step 1020. Inone embodiment of the present invention, step 1030 is performed using ajoin of two databases; namely, a database of photos and tags stored inthe digital photo frame, and a database of objects and phone numbersstored in the communicator.

In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 8, which is a simplifieddiagram of joining of a digital photo database 145 for a digital photoframe with a contact list database 445 for a communicator, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Digital photo database 145includes inter alia fields for a photo ID, a tag ID and an object ID.The photo ID is an identifier for one of the digital photos stored inthe digital photo frame. The tag ID is an identifier for one of the tagsassociated with the digital photo identified by the photo ID. The objectID is an identifier for the object corresponding to the tag referencedby tag ID. Contact list database includes inter alia fields for anobject ID and a phone number. The object ID is an identifier for anobject.

Databases 145 and 445 may be joined by matching an object ID in a recordof database 145 with an object ID in a record of database 445. When thedatabases are joined, the digital photo frame is able to retrieve aphone number of the object corresponding to a tag of a digital photo. Atstep 1040 of FIG. 7 the digital photo frame automatically instructs thecommunicator to dial the retrieved phone number and support a phoneconversation, thereby enabling the dial-a-tag functionality of thepresent invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, thedigital picture frame includes a speaker and microphone, to enable orenhance the audio capabilities of the communicator.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified flowchart of a methodof receiving an incoming phone call, via a communicator, by a digitalphoto frame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The steps of FIG. 9 are performed by a digital photo frame, such asdigital photo frame 100 of FIG. 6.

The communicator receives an incoming phone call, and obtains a callerID. At step 1110 the digital photo frame receives the caller ID from thecommunicator. At step 1120 the digital photo frame identifies the callerfrom the communicator's contact list. At step 1130 the digital photoframe identifies one or more digital photos that have associated tagscorresponding to the caller identified at step 1120. In one embodimentof the present invention, steps 1120 and 1130 are performed using thejoined database shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, the joined databaseenables the digital photo frame to identify records for digital photosin database 145 that are joined with the record in database 445 having aphone number that matches the caller ID received at step 1110. It isnoted that steps 1120 and 1130 are substantially reverse to step 1030where a phone number is identified from a tag.

Finally, at step 1140 the digital photo frame renders the one or moredigital photos identified at step 1130 in a slide show fashion, for theduration of the incoming call. The user of the digital photo frame isthus able to view photos of the object that is calling him.

Reference is made to FIG. 10, which is a simplified flowchart of amethod for tagging objects appearing in photos when a communicator isnot attached to a digital photo frame, and linking the photo tags tophone numbers when the communicator is subsequently attached to thedigital photo frame, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. At step 1210 a user tags digital photos with tagscorresponding to objects that appear in the photos. Step 1210 may beperformed by means of the digital photo frame, or by means of anycomputing device that enables photo tagging.

At step 1220 the communicator is attached to the digital photo frame. Atstep 1230 the digital photo frame processes newly added tags that arenot currently linked to phone numbers. For each such tag, the objectcorresponding to the tag is searched for in the communicator's contactlist. In one embodiment of the present invention, step 1230 is performedby trying to match the object ID of the record for the tag in database145, with the object ID of a record in database 445. If a match isfound, as determined at step 1240, then at step 1250 the digital photoframe enables the user to link the phone number of the object ID withthe tag. The linked phone number would then be the phone number calledby the dial-a-tag functionality when the tag is activated.

Otherwise, if a match is not found, as determined at step 1240, then atstep 1260 the digital photo frame enables the user to select a recordfrom database 445 to match with the tag. The phone number in theselected record is then linked to the tag. Alternatively, the user maycreate a new record in database 445 to match with the tag. The phonenumber in the newly created record is then linked to the tag. After step1250 or 1260, the method returns to step 1230 to process a nextcurrently unlinked tag, for linking a phone number thereto.

The digital photo frame also enables the user to change a phone numbercurrently linked with a tag, to a different phone number.

Reference is made to FIG. 11, which is a simplified flowchart of amethod for tagging objects appearing in photos and linking the phototags to phone numbers, when a communicator is attached to a digitalphoto frame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.At step 1310 the communicator is attached to the digital photo frame. Atstep 1320 the digital photo frame enables a user to create a new tag fora digital photo. At step 1330 the digital photo frame enables the userto select an object from the communicator's contact list. The phonenumber of the selected object is then linked to the new tag.Alternatively, the user may create a new object. The phone number of thenewly created object is then linked to the new tag. The method thenreturns to step 1320 to create a next new tag.

In reading the above description, persons skilled in the art willappreciate that there are many apparent variations that can be appliedto the methods and systems described. One such variation is, afterjoining the databases 145 and 445 (FIG. 8), storing the phone numbers ofobjects corresponding to tags in digital photo frame database 145. Inthis case, the methods of FIGS. 7 and 9 are performed without the needto access the contact list of the mobile communicator.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to thespecific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A method for communication using a digital photoframe, comprising: rendering a digital photo with a plurality ofdifferent objects appearing in the photo, the digital photo having oneor more name tags associated therewith, wherein a name tag for a digitalphoto corresponds to an object appearing in the photo; receiving a userinput phone call command for any selected one of the name tagsassociated with the rendered digital photo; and in response to saidreceiving: automatically determining a phone number for the objectcorresponding to the selected name tag; and automatically dialing thephone number for the object corresponding to the selected name tag. 11.The method of claim 10 wherein name tags correspond to objects takenfrom the group consisting of people, business establishments,organizations, governments and municipalities, geographical sites,entertainment services and information services.
 12. The method of claim10 wherein said rendering comprises rendering the digital photo on atouch-sensitive screen, and wherein said receiving a user input phonecall command comprises identifying an area of the touch-sensitive screentouched by the user, the area corresponding to the selected name tag.13. The method of claim 10 wherein said automatically determiningcomprises automatically locating the phone number for the objectcorresponding to the selected name tag within a contact list of phonenumbers for objects.
 14. A method for communication using a digitalphoto frame, comprising: rendering a digital photo with a plurality ofdifferent objects appearing in the photo, the digital photo having oneor more name tags associated therewith, wherein a name tag for a digitalphoto corresponds to an object appearing in the photo; automaticallydetermining phone numbers corresponding to the one or more name tags;receiving a user input phone call command for any selected one of thename tags associated with the rendered digital photo; and in response tosaid receiving, automatically dialing the phone number for the objectcorresponding to the selected name tag.
 15. The method of claim 14wherein name tags correspond to objects taken from the group consistingof people, business establishments, organizations, governments andmunicipalities, geographical sites, entertainment services andinformation services.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said renderingcomprises rendering the digital photo on a touch-sensitive screen, andwherein said receiving a user input phone call command comprisesidentifying an area of the touch-sensitive screen touched by the user,the area corresponding to the selected name tag.
 17. The method of claim14 wherein said automatically determining comprises automaticallylocating the phone numbers for the objects corresponding to the one ormore name tags within a contact list of phone numbers for objects.
 18. Amethod for linking name tags associated with digital photos to objectsin a contact list, by a digital photo frame, comprising: associatingname tags with a plurality of digital photos, where each digital photocomprises a plurality of different objects appearing therein, and wherea name tag for a digital photo corresponds to an object appearing in thedigital photo; accessing a contact list of phone numbers for objects;automatically searching for the object corresponding to one of the nametags within the contact list; and if the object corresponding to one ofthe name tags is located within the contact list, then automaticallyenabling a user to assign the object's phone number to the name tag; andif the object corresponding to one of the name tags is not locatedwithin the contact list, then enabling a user to assign an existingobject or a new object to the name tag.
 19. A method for linking nametags associated with digital photos to objects in a contact list, by adigital photo frame, comprising: for each of a plurality of objectsappearing in a digital photo: associating a name tag with the digitalphoto, the name tag corresponding to the object; accessing a contactlist of phone numbers for objects; and automatically enabling a user toassign one of the objects in the contact list to the name tag, or to adda new object and phone number to the contact list and to assign the newobject to the name tag; and in response to the user activating any oneof the name tags, automatically dialing the phone number of the objectassigned to that name tag. 20-28. (canceled)